Dawson City - Pelly Crossing

(Distance 326 km)

The Trail from Dawson City to Pelly Crossing is the longest of
the entire Yukon Quests (326 kilometers). After the 36-hours ' obligation
stay ' in Dawson City, the mushers and above all the dogs are well
rested. The sled they have to pull now, is much heavier (because
of the long distance), than before Dawson. However, the mushers
must now pass by the Black Hills and have something to do with their
heavy charge, in order to get along with the upward gradients and
' devoured ' paths. The 'bligation stay is only for the last musher
that leaves Dawson excactly 36 hours, all the others get their 2
minutes from the starting on top. After leaving the Dawson checkpoint
the teams cross the Yukon River and drive a short piece at the Klondike
River Valley, before they take the long rise to the King Solomon
Dome, the highest mountain inf the Yukon Quest. Subsequently, a
valley is crossed, in which some mines are located. These can cause
bad ice or even open water. Afterwards the Trail leads the next
40 kilometers crosswise by the Black Hills and clears its way toward
Stewart River and Scroggie Creek. This way is not particularly loved
by Mushern, since it is close and has many hairpin curves, which
can prove for the travel with the heavy sled as very difficult.
From here on the Trail follows over 112 kilometers of an old mine
road, the Scroggie Creek Road, to the Pelly River, where an unofficial
checkpoint (Steppin Stone) is. From there it goes on the highway,
along the Pelly Rivers, up to the small settlement Pelly Crossing.